Features
Four accused of stealing $1.3 million from employment department
SACRAMENTO — Authorities arrested a former employee and three others Friday who allegedly stole $1.3 million from the state Employment Development Department by issuing and cashing fraudulent disability insurance checks.
Maria G. Sandoval, of Lynwood, a former state disability insurance program representative, and three others were charged in connection with several counts of mail fraud, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office press release Friday.
Sandoval, 25, allegedly authorized payments to herself and three others using various birthdays and social security numbers. The checks then were deposited into several bank accounts, including those belonging to the defendants, the release said. Also arrested were: Aleajandro Gutierrez, 23, of Norwalk, and Michael Sandoval, 25, and Maria Majia Velasco, 55, both of Lynwood. The defendants were indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Sacramento.
